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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.14.6

Who is speaking and story frame

पालयन्ति प्रजापाला यावदन्तं विभागश: ।

यज्ञभागभुजो देवा ये च तत्रान्विताश्च तै: ॥ ६ ॥

pālayanti prajā-pālā

yāvad antaṁ vibhāgaśaḥ

yajña-bhāga-bhujo devā

ye ca tatrānvitāś ca taiḥ

Translation

To enjoy the results of sacrifices [yajñas], the rulers of the world, namely the sons and grandsons of Manu, discharge the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead until the end of Manu’s reign. The demigods also share the results of these sacrifices.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Peace Through Succession and Saṅkīrtana

  1. 1

    The rulers in Manu’s line execute the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s orders through the paramparā system, or disciplic succession.

  2. 2

    Anyone interested in peaceful life must participate in this paramparā system and perform yajñas. The rulers and demigods share the results of these sacrifices.

  3. 3

    Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas in Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s succession must perform saṅkīrtana-yajña throughout the world. Spreading this movement satisfies Him and makes people happy.

Key points from the purport
  • The rulers of the world in the line of hierarchy execute the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the paramparā system.
  • As Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas in the paramparā system of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, we must perform saṅkīrtana-yajña all over the world (yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ).
  • Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in this Age of Kali, and He will be easily satisfied if the saṅkīrtana movement is spread vigorously all over the world.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 8.14.6 quotesBG 4.2

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.2): “This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Uncertainty → Cosmic order. The narrative resets the frame to cyclical cosmic governance.

Chapters 13–14 of Canto 8: Manus and universal management. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 14: The System of Universal Management

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The Indras are various rulers of the heavenly planets. Assisted by the demigods, they rule the three worlds.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.14
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pālayantiexecute the order
  2. prajā-pālāḥthe rulers of the world, namely the sons and grandsons of Manu
  3. yāvat antamunto the end of Manu’s reign
  4. vibhāgaśaḥin divisions
  5. yajña-bhāga-bhujaḥthe enjoyers of the result of yajñas
  6. devāḥthe demigods
  7. yeothers
  8. caalso
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.14

    In this verse: “rulers”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I take a small part in saṅkīrtana rather than only seeking peace for myself?

Practice

Invite someone to join you in a few minutes of saṅkīrtana today.

Live this todayPeace Through Succession and SaṅkīrtanaThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 8.14.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.